Sponge holder



J. D. GARVEY sPoNGE HOLDER Jan. 2, 1934.

Filed July 29, 1932 Irmfen or Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPONGE HOLDER James D. Garvey, Chicago, Ill. Application `luly 29, 1932. Serial No. 625,672

4 Claims.

My invention relates to means for firmly holding a sponge while in use, as for example in the washing of an automobile, or the like; the object being to provide a holder whereby the sponge is rmly held and maintained in a spread out or ycontinuous plane so as to provide an elongated Washing surface.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means which may be readily released from sponge gripping condition to permit renewal or rearrangement of the sponge when desired.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a sponge holder which is also adapted to hold the end of a water conveying flexible conduit or hose, whereby the cleaning fluid or Water will be delivered onto the sponge so as to saturate the same and to percolate therethrough during the cleaning operation; while at the same time providing a holder of inexpensive construction.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved holder holding a sponge and provided with a portion of water conduit or hose.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view with the sponge omitted and portions of the holder broken away.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantiallv7 on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, as viewed by the arrows.

My holder is especially intended for properly and rmly gripping a large sponge as used for example in automobile washing and in its specific embodiment consists of a suitable block or back 10, as for example a rectangular piece of wood of sufficient size and thickness to provide strength and preferably having at surfaces as shown. This member or block 10 on opposite longitudinal sides is cut out or slotted as shown at l1; the slots on opposite sides being in alignment and any suitable number being employed.

The upper face of the block 10 is provided with the elongated metallic bracket members 12, 12 and 13,preferably of the link formation shown and secured transversely of the upper face of the block 10 so that the loop ends of the bracket members will be disposed about the open ends of the slots 11 on the top of the block 1).

These bracket members (one for each pair of slots 11) may be secured to the block 10 in any suitable manner, as for example by the staple members 14, which straddle opposite sides of the bracket members and are driven through the block 10 as shown in Figure 2.

The bracket members are intended to have the sponge gripping fingers or prongs 15 extend therethrough and to be pivotally supported by 1,60 the pivot pins 16; the fingers 15 being preferably provided with the reenforcing sleeves 17 through which the pivot pins 16 are also disposed as shown in Figure 2.

The lingers 15 have their lower ends bent in an angular manner or hook form, as shown at 18, to provide gripping portions whereby the sponge A is securely gripped and held in position.

The fingers 15 are so arranged that the upper ends thereof extend upwardly toward the opposite sides of the median line of the holder; that is to say the upper end of each finger is disposed adjacent the plane of the side of the device opposite to the sidev at which the pivot points 16 of said ringer is located; and this upper end of each finger is preferably bent upwardly as shown at 19 in Figure `2. That is to say, the upper end of each finger 15 is disposed upwardly on the side of the median line opposite to that on which its pivoted point and sponge gripping end is located. 80

The upwardly disposed ends 19 on the same side of the median line are preferably inserted in suitable sleeves .20 arranged in openings in the hand grasping handle members 21; the sleeves 20 and lingers 15 being shown held in;85 the handle members 21 by means of pins 22.

The upper ends of all ngers on the same side of the median line are provided with the same handle member 21; and these handle members are preferably of the half round or semi-,90 cylindrical type shown in Figure 1. As is apparent from the construction, when the operator grasps both handle members 21, 21, these members will be forced toward each other, with the result that the lower hook ends 18 of the fingers-'95 on one side of the device will be forced toward those on the opposite side and therefore into gripping relation with the sponge A, as shown in Figure 1.

As my device is especially intended for auto` mobile washing, the back 10, intermediate of its ends, is apertured to receive a bowed tube or end of a hose as shown at 23 whereby water may constantly be delivered onto the upper or Y rear side of the sponge A during Washing operation.

The water is preferably centrally introduced and therefore the intermediate bracket member 13 is shown bowed to opposite sides of the open-y .110

ing in the block or back 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

It is apparent that the sponge or rubbing element A will be iirmly gripped as long as the operator has a hold on the handle members 2l, 2l, and that a constant supply of water may be had to Wash away the loosened dirt. On the other hand, the sponge A may be readily renewed or reversed by simply releasing the hold on handles 21, 21 and allowing them to separate, which in turn moves the hook ends 18 of the ngers 15 out of holding condition. With my device, a larger effective rubbing surface is provided because the back 10 maintains the entire sponge in position and permits equal force to be applied throughout the length of the sponge or rubbing element.

By arranging the pivot points 16 in the respective brackets 12, 12 and 13, it is apparent that the pivotal mounting on the block or back l0 may not only be more readily accomplished, but in the event of the block 10 becoming warped or broken, it may be replaced by simply removing the staples 14, thus obviating the necessity of renewing the entire holder.

I have illustrated what I believe to be a simple embodiment of the invention, but modications may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A holder of the character described comprising a body member provided with passages arranged in pairs at opposite sides thereof; sponge gripping members pivotally mounted intermediate of their ends in said passages on each side of the body member and disposed upwardly above and toward the opposite side of the body member so that the gripping members pivotally secured on one side of the body member will cross those pivotally secured on the other side; and a sectional hand grasping member, with each section secured to the upper ends of the gripping members disposed on the same side of the median line of the body member.

2. A holder of the character described comprising a body member provided with slots along opposite sides thereof; a plurality of gripping members disposed through said slots in an upwardly sloping manner with the lower ends bent into hook form; means whereby said gripping members are pivotally secured intermediate of their ends to said body member while the members of opposite sides cross each other above the body member; and a sectional hand grasping member, with each section secured to the upper ends of all of the gripping members disposed on the same side of the median line of the body member whereby movement of the sections toward each other induces the hook ends of the gripping members on opposite sides of the body member to move toward each other.

3. A holder of the character described comprising an elongated body member provided With slots along opposite sides; bracket members secured to the body member at said slots; a plurality of gripping members disposed through said slots and bracket members and pivotally secured intermediate of their ends to said bracket members, the ends of the gripping members above the pivot points being disposed upwardly to-ward the opposite side of the body member with the upper ends of the gripping members on one sidefr crossing those of the other side and disposed beyond the plane of the median line of the body member; and hand grasping members secured to the upper ends of the respective gripping members pivoted on the same side of the body member whereby movement of the grasping members and upper ends of the gripping members toward each other will cause the lower gripping ends of the gripping members pivoted at opposite sides of the body member to move toward each other.

4. A holder of the character described com prising a body member provided with openings along opposite sides, gripping rods disposed through said openings and disposed upwardly toward the opposite side of the body member with the rods of one side crossing those of the other side above the body member and the upper ends arranged in parallel spaced apart relation; means whereby the gripping members are pivotally secured intermediate of their ends to said vbody member; hand grasping elements secured'- to the upper ends of the gripping rods; and means whereby water may be conveyed to the lower side of said body member.

JAMES D. GARVEY. 

